Save Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital petition launched

Chris Carter-Chapman, who stood as a Conservative candidate in the general election, started the petition after hearing that the government may potentially cancel the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, which is due to be built at Addenbrooke's.

The former South Cambridgeshire parliamentary candidate said: "This is so disappointing, lots of us have been involved in the campaign to build it and we're hugely supportive of it going into the Addenbrooke's site - who wouldn't be.

Former parliamentary candidate Chris Carter-Chapman (left) with former South Cambs MP Anthony Browne (Image: South Cambridgeshire Conservatives) "It's going to change the way in which research is conducted, it's going to improve clinical care and ultimately more people are going to survive cancer when that hospital is built. 

"My own family have sadly had cause to spend a lot of time at Addenbrooke's.

"My nephew was diagnosed with a very rare form of kidney cancer when he was just one and I'm doing this for him and I'm doing it for all of the people who would benefit from this hospital."

The petition, which has already received more than 200 signatures, can be found at https://www.change.org/p/save-the-cambridge-cancer-hospital.

Mr Carter-Chapman added: "It's not acceptable to take money that was announced in the New Hospital Building Programme last year, specifically to build this hospital, and to go and spend it somewhere else in the country.

"That's wrong for the community and it's wrong for all of those people who are sadly going to face a cancer diagnosis in the future.

"Let's send a message to the government that the cancer hospital need to be built."

The New Hospital Building Programme was reviewed by the Conservative government in May 2023, and has now been inherited by the current government under the Labour administration, who criticised the plans as "undeliverable".

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We inherited a New Hospital Programme that is undeliverable and unfunded.

"We will be honest with patients and will put the programme on a sustainable footing.

"Patient safety is our biggest concern, so rebuilds of hospitals built primarily from RAAC, alongside those where the full business case is already approved, will continue as planned.

"Our review will provide a thorough, costed and realistic timeline for delivery of the rest of the programme to ensure we can replace the crumbling hospital estate in England.

"This, alongside the fundamental reforms that will be introduced in our 10-Year Health Plan, will ensure we build an NHS that is fit for the future."

The Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital aims to bring together 'clinical and research expertise in a new world-class hospital, designed in partnership with patients'.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed plans for the hospital are still on track.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "On Friday, September 20, 2024, the Government published the terms of reference for the New Hospital Programme (NHP) review.

"As the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital project does not yet have full business case approval, we will be included in the national review, which aims to put the NHP on a deliverable timetable.

"We are continuing to make significant progress on the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital project and we look forward to pre-construction works beginning on site in the coming months.

"We expect to submit the full business case next year and are on track to build the hospital by 2029."